Even though some Android device makers have already rolled out devices with embedded fingerprint sensors that offer users added security features, Google has yet to make it a core security feature for Android. But Google is still working on its own interesting solutions for temporarily killing the need for a PIN on smartphones, as the company has just added new functionality to Android 5.0 Lollipop that’s not only cool, but also very useful.
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As reported by Android Police, Google has added a new On-body detection feature to Lollipop that lets a user unlock his or her smartphone only once while the device is on his or her body.
Basically, the smartphone will detect whether it is being carried on someone’s body, in which case it won’t prompt the wearer to input the unlock code every time it’s used. The feature makes using a smartphone while walking or commuting even more convenient, as one wouldn’t have to keep entering the proper security code to unlock it.
On-body detection, combined with other security features in Android including Trusted Places, Trusted Devices and Trusted Face, should make using a smartphone in areas designated as “safe” even easier.
One problem with the new feature was even highlighted by Google: passing a device with On-body detection activated to someone else will not relock the device, meaning the person handling the device could access everything on it as long as it remains on his or her body.
The On-body detection feature will be rolled out to devices via a Google Play Services update that should hit all smartphones and tablets running Android 5.0 and later.
Screenshots showing the new Lollipop security feature follow below.
